Micro-Needling & Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Facial Therapy

What is Micro-Needling with PRP?

Microneedling uses a sterile needle-tip with 12 tiny micro-needles that make controlled micro-injuries and initiates the skin’s repair process to produce collagen and elastin. Micro-channels allow for optimal absorption of topical products and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) for optimal results in the deeper layers of skin. The faddish name for PRP is “The Vampire Facial” a trademarked term. PRP treatments have been used for wound and surgical healing even before being used as skin rejuvenation. Platelets are a type of blood cell which play a key role in the body’s clotting response. Without platelets, blood clots wouldn’t form. Platelets are used as they are storage houses for growth factors that enhance cell turnover, tissue regeneration, and wound healing. Specifically, the growth factors attract stem cells to the area, and cell division is stimulated. Additionally, inflammation is limited, tissue healing is improved, and new blood vessel formation is enhanced.

 

What is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy?

Platelet Rich Plasma is a concentration of platelets in the blood that are crucial to wound healing. When used for skin rejuvenation, PRP releases growth factors into the skin to expedite the body’s own repair process and stimulate new collagen and elastin. Certain cells, called Fibroblasts, will be recruited to the treated skin area. Fibroblasts stimulate the production of collagen, a vital skin protein that plays a key role in structure and shape. Over time, as collagen production is continually stimulated, firmer, tighter and younger-looking skin will regenerate.

 

What does the procedure entail?

If you elect to also receive the PRP treatment, your plasma will need to be collected. A syringe is used to draw a small amount of blood from your arm. The blood will be placed inside a centrifuge, a machine that spins the blood and divides it into separate cell layers. Platelets will be isolated from this process to use in the PRP treatment.

Since the platelets being used in the PRP procedure come from the patient, there is no danger of an allergic or hyper-sensitivity reaction. PRP is then topically applied to the skin immediately following a micro-needling procedure. The micro-channels created by micro-needling provide direct pathways to the deeper layers of skin for optimal wound healing. Micro-needling with PRP application is an ideal treatment for fine lines, wrinkles, scars and increasing plumpness and overall rejuvenation of the skin. Research studies have proven that PRP is even more effective than vitamin C or other known collagen stimulating serums.

What does it feel like?

Micro-Needling feels similar to sandpaper being moved across the skin. Topical numbing may be applied prior to your procedure, but no anesthesia or medications are necessary. PRP is applied topically during the treatment with no additional discomfort.

What can I expect after a PRP Micro-Needling procedure?

The skin will be red and flushed, similar to a mild to moderate sunburn, for 12 hours to 48 hours. You may also experience mild swelling, tightness, and/or mild peeling. Side effects are temporary and typically resolve within 3 days. Total healing time depends on the depth of the treatment, skin type, and skin condition, and some patients may heal completely in 24 hours.

When will I see the results?

Patients typically notice an immediate glow, but visible improvement will take about 2-4 weeks and can continue for up to 6 months. Studies have shown up to an 80% increase in skin thickness. Texture, tone, fine lines, pores, stretchmarks, scarring and wrinkles show dramatic results with multiple treatments.

How many treatments will I need?

A series of 3-6 treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart is a good place to start ideal for optimal results. Some conditions like deep wrinkles, advanced photo-aging, stretch marks, and acne scars may need 6-12 treatments. Ultimately you decide the level of regeneration you desire.

 

What are the Risks?

MicroNeedling and PRP are generally safe skin-rejuvenation treatments. Redness, minor inflammation, bruising and bleeding may occur. More serious side effects include: infection, hematoma formation, or nerve trauma. If you experience any of those symptoms after your treatment, always call our clinic as soon as possible.

PRP therapy is contraindicated for individuals who have a critically low platelet count (thrombocytopenia); hemodynamic instability; an active infection; chronic liver disease; and for those individuals currently taking anti-coagulants ( such as warfarin; dabigatran and heparin.)

 

 

Star Spa is now offering Microneedling with PRP a collagen boosting procedure as seen on television shows such as the Oprah Winfrey and The Doctors shows. Platelet rich plasma from the “buffy coat” is used from the patients own bloodstream. This autologous or “self-donated” plasma is known to be rich in platelet cells that are essentially stem cells, with the ability to guide the reformation and rejuvenation of collagen in the dermal layer of the skin. These stem cells also activate macrophages, the body’s own “clean-up” cells, to carry away old cell debris and process the basic proteins and complex sugars that serve as the building blocks of collagen.  This very special product, the platelet rich plasma, is then applied to the surface of the face, or other treatment area for absorption while micro-needling The centrifuge system is a completely enclosed sterile system with computer-driven spin cycles designed to collect the valuable “buffy coat” of the client’s own blood, drawn from the arm just prior to the procedure.

 

It should be understood that many providers of this type of treatment do not use the special systems and procedures required to collect the true buffy coat, which is an area of the centrifuged blood known to be rich in platelets. Many of these providers will simply centrifuge blood and pull off the “platelet poor plasma” for their procedures. The “platelet poor” part of the plasma has very few stem cells and is essentially useless for collagen reformation and rejuvenation. It is also important to understand that the inadequate collection of platelet poor plasma is often done in a non-sterile manner. This could be potentially dangerous, resulting in deadly infections. The FDA requires that centrifuged plasma be collected and handled under a sterile hood, which is not usually available in the types of facilities and salons that offer these procedures. The Purespin Centrifuge technology creates a closed and sterile system that has been approved by the FDA, for safe collection of these very important blood products. Be careful to research these issues and ask questions before having this type of treatment done.